Kenya has banned a brand of condoms weeks after Zambia did the same after tests concluded that they leak.The condom brand known as Hot, which is manufactured in the UK, featured in a Kenyan TV report where its strength was tested - and found wanting.

Officials announced the ban after their tests also revealed weaknesses. The government, which gives out 160 million condoms each year, feared that stories about leaky condoms could damage its fight against HIV.

The BBC's Ruth Nesoba, in Nairobi, says there is a clear sense of anger among members of the public.

Almost 7% of the adult population are said to be living with HIV.

Prevention hamperedNicholas Muraguri, head of the country's HIV/Aids control programme, says he will be conducting a study to see how the issue has affect people's confidence in condoms.

We are quite positive that we have caught up with a lot of the products John Wepukhulu
Kenya Bureau of Standards

"Those people who are using this particular brand of condoms are going to be very worried," he said.

Officials are attempting to reassure the public, saying that 95% of the condoms on sale meet standards set by the UN.

John Wepukhulu, who is in charge of quality at the Kenya Bureau of Standards, said the banned condoms were just one brand out of many on the market.

"We are quite positive that we have caught up with a lot of the products," he said.

Huge quantities of condoms are imported into Africa as part of Aids prevention campaigns.

But our correspondent says that several brands have been found to be faulty over the years, hampering prevention efforts and highlighting the need for better quality control.

The controversial Hot condoms brand has been banned after recording 100 per cent failure rate.

The condoms, which are manufactured by a UK based company Contempo, have been recalled following confirmed leakage tests by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs).Kebs Chief Manager, Quality Assurance and Inspection John Wepukhulu, has directed retail outlets to remove the substandard product from their shelves immediately.

"Kebs inspectors will be carrying out market surveillance and any Hot brand condoms would be seized and the vendor prosecuted for offering a sub-standard product for sale," said Wepukhulu. Addressing the Press at Kebs headquarters, Wepukhulu said the Hot condoms did not comply with the Standards Authority requirement and thus the withdrawal.

The bureau is, however, not sure of the quantities of Hot condoms in the market, which retails at Sh200, and have embarked on a nationwide research to establish the volumes.Furthermore, Wepukhulu said, they have a week to mop up this entire brand of condoms from the market. The importer will, however, not be stopped from continuing to supply other Contempo range of products like Rough Rider, Wet n Wild, Bareback, Power Play, Midnight, Endurance and King Size, which meet Kebs requirement.

"The importer's other products, which met the standard so it may not be wise to stop them," said Wepukhulu. But they have taken steps to ensure that all condoms in the market were tested and branded.

The condoms, Wepukhulu said, had been tested at the point of entry but they had found nothing wrong with them.

Kebs, he said, had received information from their Zambian counterpart and were investigating before the Kenyan media broke the news.

Kenya has banned a brand of condoms weeks after Zambia did the same after tests concluded that they leak.The condom brand known as Hot, which is manufactured in the UK, featured in a Kenyan TV report where its strength was tested - and found wanting. Officials announced the ban after their tests also revealed weaknesses. The government, which gives out 160 million condoms each year, feared that stories about leaky condoms could damage its fight against HIV. The BBC's Ruth Nesoba, in Nairobi, says there is a clear sense of anger among members of the public. Almost 7% of the adult population are said to be living with HIV. Prevention hamperedNicholas Muraguri, head of the country's HIV/Aids control programme, says he will be conducting a study to see how the issue has affect people's confidence in condoms.

We are quite positive that we have caught up with a lot of the products

John Wepukhulu
Kenya Bureau of Standards

"Those people who are using this particular brand of condoms are going to be very worried," he said. Officials are attempting to reassure the public, saying that 95% of the condoms on sale meet standards set by the UN. John Wepukhulu, who is in charge of quality at the Kenya Bureau of Standards, said the banned condoms were just one brand out of many on the market. "We are quite positive that we have caught up with a lot of the products," he said. Huge quantities of condoms are imported into Africa as part of Aids prevention campaigns. But our correspondent says that several brands have been found to be faulty over the years, hampering prevention efforts and highlighting the need for better quality control.